Heartburn, stomach acid medication linked to serious kidney damage

Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors – popular drugs commonly used to treated heartburn, acid reflux and ulcers – could lead to kidney damage and severe kidney disease.

The researchers conclude long-term use of PPIs may cause harm to the kidneys and should be avoided.

This was the conclusion researchers came to after analyzing large collections of patient data held in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national databases. They report their findings in theJournal of the American Society of Nephrology.